Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-08-26
A STEADFAST FLAME.
BY JAMES FRANKLIN FITS.

where he picked me up and attached
me to him is OF no consequence, for
the story has no relation to myself.
Yet the episode may be OF some value
as showing something OF him.
1t happened at the Parker House,
Boston. had come to the city to
look up a rich relative, from whom
had reason to expect profitable EN-.
ployment. Standing at the desk l
registered in that large, round back
hand that is part of me. l turned to
step away and saw that a heavy man
with a dull-looking face, relieved by
piercing little gray eyes, had been look
ing over my shoulder.
"Hold on sir" he said. II want
to see you" -. o.:
He seized the pen, scored off the
name "John Rawlinson" in Grabbed
hand and asked me to step into the
readng-room with him.
He motioned me to a chair, and
took one himself. Then without q
word, he stared at me for full min.
ute.
The oddly OF the thing struck me.
laughed.
You'll know me when you see me
again, hope" was my remark.
used to-" he said. MAX was my con-
6dential clerk years ago. He fell into
the lake at Chicago and was dro wned.
I want you to write my letters. Who
are you, anyway"
told him.
"Poor young fellow; no relatives;
colIege-bred--eh!"
mo relations but the uncle I came
here to look for, and I'm not sure
that he will acknowledge me. l never
saw college; and as for poverty
when pay for my dinner, | don't
know where l shall get another"
The strange man deliberately ended
his inspection Of me.
II rather like your face; l certainly
like your account OF yourself. |
haven't any relatives, either; they do
man no good. hate colleges, be-
cause they take bright young fellows
and make conceited asses out OF them.
started poor, and ! like to see others
do the same. Do you want good en-
ployment?'
'Aboye all things, SIR
sI'Il give you $500 the first year,
and pay your expenses to go with me,
write for me and attend to my inter.
ests generally"
accepted the offer on the spot.
"You ought to understand, sir, that
I'm called eccentric; and when man
worth 81 million gets that name, there
must be something in it. And then
I'm travelling about all the time.
You'll 60 where go. Does this change
your mind?'
"No, sir"
Every well. Come into dinner.
pay the bills"
Before the end of that year we had
lourneyed many Thousands OF miles
by railroad, steambon; and stage in
thirteen states. My business connec'
lions with him lasted almost three
years.
During all the time i,al never dis,
covered that John Ra linson had a
permanent home. y! =. stopped at
hotels. | never knew! m to make q
visit t. any person eX'Apt strictly IN
the way OF business. loon began tc
see that he was avoiding the people
who had known him In the past7Sears
He never breathed a word to Ee Of
his previous life, nor did he encourage
my talk on nything except business
found abundant occupation If
writing his letters. reading and brief
ing up his mail, which followed him
over the country, and taking curefu
notes OF all the information that he
collected. His business was entire
Is the seeking Of promising invest
ments in real estate. have under
stood, since then, some OF his shrewd
ness and foresight. Dozens OF thriving
cities exist now, where in that day
was nothing but the virgin forest 3 OF
prairie; very few of them but were
marked in advance by Mr.. Rowlin
sons keen aveyas promising sites; and
have no doubt that these timely in
vestments have increased his millions
ten fold "-~
One day at hotel in southwest
ern city g. gentleman accosted him
spoke mis- name and offered his hand.
MIR. Rawlinson returned his saiuta
ton indifferently, made some casua
remark and turned abruptly away.
| followed the stranger out on tht
street. -
"Tell mo something OF that mar
you spoke to-" I said.ss"I have beer
in his employ for months, and ! can''
learn anything about him."
"He was grain operator in Chlca
go. They said that he had made
money there, and knew enough &c
quit with it.. That's all M know: %
him" .s.s. s,5 ,ass .4 st5s:s
Hasn't he had some trouble?" j.
."some family difficulty, / believe
His wife died, If Iremelnber right: But
can't recall anything OF 1t. y. I
When business did not occupy him,
and often on our journeys he was har
bitrally plunged into the depths OF ab
sorbing thought. At such times hl:
face would assume q sombre cast, ane
an expression OF the deepest melan
choly would overspread II But bn
reflections were kept to himself. H'
gave me no confid outside OF bus
ness affairs, in which / was lmpllcitI,
K trusted. !. 4 ss$
The end Of ernplo yment Va.
reached through acurious ad ventur'
which mustab told ii detail.. VI ].
WeA4Rsre ID q halt fedged town y
Missouri. II is q great city now. IN,
railroads had then just cominences
4: tn roo nh n,,k S55 frs. IL q nd lfA ssD00m